Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski plans public announcement today

It will be the mayor’s first public comment from the mayor since a federal jury convicted him last Thursday of 47 felony counts.

Pawlowski also is set to resign today, a source said Wednesday.

Pawlowski, who defiantly mounted and won a campaign for a fourth term in the face of his federal indictment last year, staunchly refused to leave office until now, even as it became clear that he was the focus of an FBI probe into Allentown’s contracting process.

He was equally unswayed by Allentown City Council’s 2016 vote of no confidence against him, and as guilty pleas rolled in from several of his closest associates.

But pressure has mounted since Pawlowski was convicted last week for his involvement in a pay-to-play operation at City Hall. Jurors found that the mayor traded city contracts for campaign donations and other items of value.

Pawlowski and his attorney were due to meet with U.S. District Judge Juan R. Sanchez on Friday to discuss conditions of his release, although the conference was postponed. The mayor met with his top staff members Tuesday to brief them.

His departure marks a dark end to Pawlowski’s tenure, which until recently had been noteworthy for several high-profile successes — the revival of the city’s business district chief among them, as well as the stabilization of its pension system.

But despite his successes, Pawlowski will be remembered for his tumultuous exit, which was spurred by an FBI raid on City Hall in July 2015 and ended in a six-week trial that commanded the attention of residents, public officials and political observers across the state.

Allentown’s home rule charter requires the mayor to leave office if convicted of a felony and all charges against Pawlowski fit that criteria.

The mayor’s departure will trigger a never-before-used procedure outlined in the home rule charter in selecting a replacement mayor. Initially, the president of Allentown City Council, Roger MacLean, will serve as acting mayor.

Within 30 days, council must choose an interim mayor from the same party as the outgoing mayor. That person will serve until the November 2019 municipal election.

MacLean said he met with Pawlowski on Tuesday evening to discuss “preparation.” He would not elaborate further.

MacLean said he believes he will automatically become acting mayor in the event of a resignation, but if a swearing-in ceremony is necessary, he will hold one.

No reason was given, but the order came out after it became clear the federal court and U.S....

There was concern Pawlowski would not leave office before his sentencing, which is when he’ll be considered convicted under state law. No sentencing date has been scheduled.

However, federal officials immediately pressured Pawlowski to leave office. On the night of his conviction, prosecutors urged the mayor to “do the right thing” in light of the charges. The morning after, U.S. Attorney Louis Lappen held a news conference where he called for Pawlowski’s resignation.

Pawlowski’s defense attorney, Jack McMahon, described the hearing scheduled for Friday as a status conference to discuss next steps in the case, but declined further comment.

Over the weekend, Pawlowski sent a text message to supporters pleading for them to write letters to Sanchez requesting leniency and to allow him to remain free on bond through an appeals process. In federal court, appeals cannot be filed until after sentencing.

Pawlowski maintained his innocence from the earliest days of the investigation, asking residents to wait until he had his day in court before passing judgment. After his indictment in July, Pawlowski held a defiant news conference with McMahon on the steps of his Center City home and pinned the blame on his longtime campaign manager and friend, Mike Fleck, calling him a “manipulative thief” and a “historical liar.”

During his trial, McMahon again tried to shift the blame to Pawlowski’s campaign team, including adviser Sam Ruchlewicz, summarizing the charges against the mayor as “the Mike and Sam Show.” Ruchlewicz, who secretly recorded Pawlowski for more than a year, spent four days on the witness stand testifying against the mayor.

Pawlowski also testified, telling jurors that he was unaware that his campaign and City Hall staff were making arrangements to trade city contracts for donations to his campaign.

Ultimately, jurors were unconvinced and convicted Pawlowski on charges including conspiracy, bribery, fraud and making false statements.

What’s not quite clear is what happens next for Pawlowski. Former federal prosecutor Seth Weber said Pawlowski’s case is in an unusual procedural position: There is no publicly announced sentencing date, and Pawlowski remains free on an unsecured bond, as he has since his indictment in July. Bail and plans for sentencing are usually addressed immediately after a verdict is delivered.

When setting bail, judges are supposed to consider whether a defendant is a danger to the community or likely to flee to avoid punishment. Given the nature of Pawlowski’s convictions, his danger to the community is minimal. But facing sentencing on dozens of felony charges, some of which carry maximum sentences of 20 years, he may be considered more of a flight risk, said Weber, who teaches criminal justice at DeSales University.

As a result, Sanchez may increase the conditions of Pawlowski’s bail by requiring that he post cash, Weber said.

Before either Pawlowski or his co-defendant, attorney Scott Allinson, who was convicted of conspiracy and bribery, can be sentenced, the U.S. Probation Department must perform a pre-sentencing investigation for each. That looks into the defendants’ backgrounds, education, finances and other factors that might determine an appropriate sentence. Both sides then get time to respond to the reports produced in such investigations.

The process typically takes at least 90 days.

Resigning from office before he is forced out could be seen by the judge as a sign Pawlowski accepts responsibility for his crimes and give Sanchez a reason for a degree of leniency, Weber said.

Pawlowski has been to City Hall some days, and has resumed his social media routine, posting Wednesday, for instance, about the city’s snow plans.